Inter’s bid to sign Edin Dzeko received a boost today with news Roma have identified a replacement for the striker.
The Giallorossi have been unwilling to lower their €20 million asking price so far because they had nobody lined up to succeed the Bosnian.
However, Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz could be the profile they are looking for as the Dominican is greatly admired by both Paulo Fonseca and Gianluca Petrachi.
Dzeko played just 22 minutes of Roma’s last friendly match against Athletic Bilbao and is thought to be putting his club under pressure now to let him leave.
Roma consider Diaz to be the only realistic alternative to Gonzalo Higuain, who still appears to have no interest in moving to the capital.
Mauro Icardi is another option mooted for them, but this appears to be ‘utopia’ at the moment given Inter’s former captain has repeatedly turned down the idea.
Diaz is unlikely to get much game time at Real Madrid this year and the 26-year-old is waiting for the right offer to depart.
Antonio Conte is anxiously awaiting his second transfer target in attack after welcoming Romelu Lukaku to Inter yesterday.